Serbia

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is an unpredictable leader in a region crucial for Balkan peace and stability. Striving to maintain a balanced stance between the West and Russia, he has for years benefited from European and American investments, alongside diplomatic support from Russia (particularly concerning Kosovo) and energy assistance.

MONTE CARLO - Serbia's Novak Djokovic, the world number one in men's tennis singles, was on Friday drawn to face the winner of the tie between Roman Safiulin and a qualifier in the Monte Carlo Masters second round and could play Carlos Alcaraz in the potential semi-finals and Jannik Sinner or Daniil Medvedev in the potential final.

BELGRADE - Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) deputy leader Ana Brnabic said on Friday afternoon the SNS Presidency had made important decisions about the upcoming local polls in Belgrade and that the name of the SNS electoral list would be announced on Saturday.

BRUSSELS - The head of Serbia's Mission to the EU Danijel Apostolovic noted on Friday that Serbia had made evident progress on meeting EU accession criteria and that the country was long ready to open Cluster 3 on competition and inclusive growth in its accession talks, which he said were "held hostage by unfortunate and grave geopolitical circumstances."

BELGRADE - The Serbian government adopted on Friday a MoU with the French power company EDF on establishing long-term dialogue and cooperation on energy transition and low-carbon technologies.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday he had had a sincere and difficult meeting with Germany's Western Balkans envoy Manuel Sarrazin, whom he told Serbia would oppose humiliations prepared for it in the Council of Europe (CoE) and the UN.

BELGRADE - Works on implementing the Leap Into the Future - Serbia 2027 programme will be completed by December 2026 and the cost of constructing new fair grounds, an expo site and a residential district for EXPO 2027 is estimated at 2.5 bln euros, Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic said on Friday.

BELGRADE - Serbia will send a non-paper to all Council of Europe (CoE) member states in which it will list facts and arguments against the so-called Kosovo's potential admission to the organisation, Belgrade-based Vecernje novosti daily reported on Friday.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received Christian Schmidt in Belgrade on Thursday to discuss current developments and EU integration and development processes in the region.

BELGRADE - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic met with the head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia Jan Braathu on Thursday.

Braathu said a recent meeting of the Collegium of the Serbian parliament was a very important first step and that dialogue with the opposition should be continued towards an agreement on constructive solutions.